“I am sorry, I haven’t even made introductions,” Prudence sighed with a frown. “Please excuse my rudeness.” She didn’t know what was wrong with her today. She wasn’t usually so addle brained. Maybe it was the weather. “I am Prudence Freestone. I –” she glanced at her siblings, “- we live at Cragdale Manor, up on the cliffs.” She paused when the magistrate merely nodded and moved toward them. “This is Eloisa, Madeline, Georgiana, Margaret and Robbie.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you all, I am sure. My name is Rufus Denbigh.” He bowed most officiously and offered them a smile. “Here is Mrs Bridges with some refreshments. Now, I suggest that we have some tea and then you can tell me how I can help.”
He had to admit, he was starting to enjoy himself and they had yet to tell him what they wanted. All of the ladies were a handsome bunch, and had pretty green eyes and an air of vulnerability about them that made him want to reassure them of his ready assistance for some strange reason. There was a hint of mischief about the young boy that warned him that he was a rogue in the making. Rufus had been in the village long enough to know about Cragdale Manor, although he had never had cause to visit the family before.
The Freestone family were a well thought of bunch, albeit much mourned by the villagers since the death of their father several years ago. It was unknown why they had suddenly taken pretty much to themselves since their father’s abandonment and decided to trade in Brumpton Marches rather than the local village. He knew that he would have remembered seeing the prettiest of the ladies: Eloisa, if she had been in Marchwell before. His gaze flickered over her and he felt a shiver of awareness sweep through him.
When Mrs Bridges had poured the tea and left, Rufus forced his thoughts away from object of his attraction, and drew his chair from behind his desk so that he could sit down next to Robbie.
“I am sorry for our intrusion, sir, but we have the most pressing issue that we need your opinion on,” Eloisa said primly when Prudence appeared to have forgotten her manners.
Rufus lifted a hand and frowned slightly. “Please don’t call me ‘sir’, it makes me feel ancient. Please call me Rufus. Everyone does.” It was a small lie, but they weren’t to know that. The locals in his ‘patch’ all called him Mr Denbigh, and that usually suited him just fine, but he knew that with the ladies’ nervousness, if they felt that they needed to be formal with him, he would most likely have to get the thumb screws out to prise any information out of them.
“I am sorry, Rufus,” Prudence replied with an apologetic smile. “I am afraid that things have been rather fraught of late.”
“Trouble?”
Prudence nodded. Now that she was here, she wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to tell him or not. Still, she couldn’t battle Levant on her own and this was a man of authority. “I am being pestered by Ludwig Levant to sell the family home.” She watched his gaze sharpen and he stared at her far too intently than she was comfortable with for several long moments.
“When?”
“When what?”
“When has he approached you?”
“He calls by Cragdale several times a week, and has done so since he arrived at Dinnington Hall.” Prudence felt the sharp sting of tears and paused for several moments while she tried to gather herself. She couldn’t cry now. Not in front of her siblings. They needed her to be strong for them. If they realised just how worried she really was then they would fret and that would never do.
“What has he threatened you with?”
“Nothing as yet, but he always drops by unannounced with his thugs in tow. He has offered a ridiculously low price for the house, and has offered for all of it, but then also the lands and the beach, and has also recently made an offer for myself.”
Rufus’ brows shot skyward. “I take it that you didn’t accept his erm – offer?”
Prudence snorted and was rewarded with Rufus’ grin.
“Good for you.”
“I just don’t know what to say to the man anymore because he doesn’t seem to take ‘no’ for an answer. Only the other day, he paid a visit and, that night, one of his men stood outside in the dark and was watching the house.” Now that she had started to speak, the words came out in a constant flow that she didn’t seem able to stop. “He was watching the house after dark and only left once we had closed the shutters. There is some reason why Ludwig Levant wants the beach, and he just doesn’t seem to listen when I say that we are not interested in selling any part of Cragdale Manor. I don’t know what else to do.” Her voice trailed off into a helpless whisper. Now that she had spoken, she felt rather feeble and helpless, and wasn’t comfortable with the feeling one bit. However, she was determined not to be thwarted by their malevolent neighbour.
Rufus watched a flash of temper chase away the fear in her eyes and mentally applauded. “I think that you need to stick to your guns. Levant is a mealy mouthed bully and, if he is harassing you, then I think that I should pay the man a visit. He has recently purchased an alarming amount of land in the area, very quickly, and not altogether at a fair price. Whatever the man is up to, I can only conceive that it is illegal, and that makes him dangerous.” Rufus sighed and stared down at the floor for several moments. He didn’t want to frighten the ladies, but he needed them to be extra vigilant. “I am trying to uncover a bit more about Levant’s activities. All I can say at the moment is that they look to be illegal. I am still trying to get hold of some of the villagers who have sold out to him, but it takes time. However, although my investigations are ongoing, I am more than happy to pay the man a visit and warn him to leave you alone. I would strongly recommend that if you have a solicitor, you instruct him to issue Levant with a formal letter refusing to sell any part of the land to him at any point.”
Rufus knew from the gossips in the village that their father had died and wondered where their mother was. Did Levant know that they had no father to guide and protect them? Is that why he was targeting the family; because as females they were easy prey?”
Prudence’s heart sank to her toes and she shared a woeful look with Eloisa, who looked as though she was about to burst into tears.
“What?” Rufus frowned at the heavy silence and watched the looks that passed between the ladies.
“We cannot afford a solicitor,” Eloisa replied softly. “Our father died several years ago and we are left with a small stipend that makes life difficult.” For the first time, her eyes met and held his. She could read the calm reassurance there and wasn’t sure whether to believe his readiness to help. Nobody had ever helped the family before. Eloisa and her sisters had always been left to sort out their own problems. It felt strange to confide in this veritable stranger and have him so willing to help out. “With no father, and a mother who is ill, I think that Levant might see us as a weak link he can pressurise into selling, but Cragdale is our home. It is ours and has been in our family for generations. We can’t leave it.”
The calm, matter-of-fact assurance in Eloisa’s gaze made him nod warily. He wasn’t sure whether he would have preferred her to cry so he could pat her on the head and usher her home with reassurances that he would take over. The determination in her tone warned him that he could have trouble on his hands if he didn’t set out some boundaries; and quickly.
“I am the magistrate here and, although you ladies don’t come into Marchwell much, your home is still in my jurisdiction. It is my duty to ensure that nobody is hassled into anything they don’t want. I am investigating this man and he is showing signs of being engaged in criminal activity. Until I can gather enough evidence to put him behind bars, I can only request that you stay away from him, and continue to refuse any offer he puts forward.” His eyes met and held Prudence’s. “Whatever he offers for, reject it. He cannot force you into anything if you don’t sign anything. I will pay the man a visit, if only to let him know that I am around.”
It irked Rufus that the man expected to operate so deviously right under his nose with the misapprehension that he would
get away with it. Rufus was made of sterner stuff than that, and had the benefit of the weight of the law behind him to ensure that his job was carried out to the fullest, and Levant was brought to justice if found to be breaking the law.
A surge of protectiveness swept through him as he studied the bedraggled state of his visitors while they drank their tea and tried not to shiver. He contemplated offering them a place to stay for a few days, but then thought of their mother who was purportedly ‘ill’. She was obviously still at Cragdale. It was clear from the worn state of their clothing that Eloisa had told the truth about the lack of finances; well sort of. He was fairly certain that she hadn’t been honest in telling him about just how impoverished the family really were. He hadn’t missed the worn soles to Robbie’s boots, or the frayed hems to practically all of their dresses.
“Leave it with me, ladies. I will deal with this man. It just takes time for me to investigate his activities and gather enough evidence to arrest him, unfortunately, but I will do.”
“What do we do in the meantime? I mean, he has his men watching the house and is vile when he visits.” Prudence tried to keep the panic out of her voice and took a deep breath to steady herself when Robbie glance worriedly at her.
“Either don’t speak to him or, if you are left with no choice, acknowledge his presence but don’t agree to anything he offers. Keep your distance. I will call by your house, if I may, on a daily basis, so will be a visible presence around and about your property.”
He didn’t add that it would help his investigation if he could get a layout of the house, its grounds, and take a look at the area, if only so that he could get some idea as to why Levant wanted so much of the land around the village. What was the man up to? Rufus knew that it was only the purchase of Cragdale Manor that prevented Levant from owning a sizeable portion of coastline, but why did he want so much of it? He had seen Levant’s men, and learned enough about them to know that any innocent man didn’t hire heavies like that without having something to hide. Although he didn’t tell the ladies, Rufus felt fairly certain that although he would make daily visits, Levant was unlikely to be deterred from continuing to pursue ownership of Cragdale. It would take nothing short of the man’s arrest to put a stop to his continual harassment of the Freestone family until he got what he wanted. Unfortunately, the last time he had checked, it hadn’t been illegal to purchase houses.
“If you wait for one moment, I will escort you all home.”
“That isn’t necessary, really,” Prudence offered only to watch the man stalk toward the door.
“I think that we had better start as we mean to go on, don’t you? I am going to be a visible fixture at Cragdale and, if I cannot be there because I am conducting business, I will arrange for one of my men to pay you a visit to check on you. Until then, we need to be seen out and about together so that we can make sure that everyone knows we are close acquaintances. It will ensure that Levant understands that you are not vulnerable.”
He gave Prudence a direct look that rendered any further argument she may have had completely useless, and she closed her mouth with a snap.
Silence settled in his wake, and they all stared askance at each other at the speed in which matters had been taken out of their hands. Having been forced to always be the one in control of everything, Prudence felt an immediate sense of relief that was rapidly followed with acute wariness. Was he being genuine? Did he really intend to go to such lengths to protect the family? If so, why? She didn’t have much experience with magistrates, but was fairly certain that the old magistrate, Mr Bloombury, wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to help the family.
Rufus puffed out his cheeks and took longer than usual to put his cloak on. Given that the family didn’t have a man in the house, he felt that it was down to him to ensure that there was a visible legal presence at Cragdale. If he had to get his own solicitor to issue Levant with a warning to stay away from the house and family then he would do so, however he wasn’t sure whether he would be crossing a line between professional courtesy and personal interest in taking such steps.
Not for the first time, his thoughts turned toward the delightfully intriguing Eloisa, and he wondered whether this determination to visit Cragdale on a regular basis had more to do with his driving need not to let her leave his house without having some way to contact her again. He turned around, and froze at the sight of his visitors in the hall behind him.
Clearly they are eager to leave, he thought ruefully, but merely smiled at them as he waved toward the front door. He had a curricle out back, but it wasn’t big enough to fit seven of them in, so they would have to walk.
“Ladies; gentleman, after you,” he bowed officiously at Robbie, and shared a grin with the lad as they followed the ladies out into the rain.
The walk to Cragdale took only a matter of minutes, but it was made in relative silence. He was aware of the curious looks the family snuck him. Did they really believe his offer of help? It didn’t matter, because he would prove his mettle. He had every intention of following through on his promise to ensure that Levant got the message and left them alone. If visiting Cragdale, and getting to know the family, in particular the delightful Eloisa, helped to instil their confidence in him, then so be it.
“Thank you for agreeing to help us,” Prudence murmured as they turned into the gates at Cragdale.
“Oh Lord, not again,” Eloisa whispered.
Rufus was busy thinking about how the top of her head reached his shoulder when he caught her looking at him in consternation. He smiled down at her, and was about to open his mouth to speak when he realised what, or rather who, had caused such worry to fall upon her beautiful face.
“Good afternoon, ladies,” Levant growled. The dark scowl on his face matched the disgruntled look he threw at Rufus.
Prudence mentally applauded Rufus for his insistence in escorting them home and, rather than politely reply to Levant as good manners urged her to do, she merely remained silent and allowed Rufus to take the lead.
“I am glad that you are here, Levant,” Rufus declared as he grabbed Eloisa’s hand in his. She was visibly trembling with fear – or cold – and he wanted to reassure her. To ensure that Levant was as convinced as it was possible to be, Rufus glanced down at Eloisa and winked cheekily, and was rewarded by a tell-tale blush that she couldn’t hide.
“I understand from the ladies here that you have been making a pest of yourself.”
As he spoke, his gaze raked Humphrey coldly from head to toe. “Let you out again, did they, Brown? How long will it be before I have to put you away for good?” Although his tone was conversational, the ruthless menace behind the comment was written on his face. His message was clearly received and understood by Humphrey who, now that he faced the man who could hold him to account for his crimes, appeared to have lost his usual belligerence. Rather than answer, the large man merely looked awkwardly at the ground.
A tall, dapperly dressed man to the right of him remained silent and unmoving, but was watching the interplay curiously. Rufus knew that the man was called Charles Taylor, but as yet had been unable to find out anything about the man’s background, or even where he came from.
“I take it that you have nothing better to do with your day than associate with him, Taylor?” Rufus drawled and nodded toward Levant. He had done his homework well and watched the supposed man of business jump in alarm at the mention of his name. Rufus merely smiled coldly and turned his attention to Levant, and the rider beside him, who seemed to have far too much of an interest in Prudence; if the way he was staring at her was any indication.
“I think, Levant, that you had better stop pestering these ladies. They have made it perfectly clear that they are not interested in selling out to you, or anyone else for that matter. As I am taking over their personal business for the time being, I suggest that any further – offers – for their property, or them, are made directly to me.”
“So you are a man of business now?�
�� Levant scoffed and flicked a narked look at Prudence. “Hopefully, you will be much better at that than you are a magistrate.”
“I am very efficient at everything I turn my hand to and now that I have a personal stake in what happens at Cragdale, I endeavour to ensure that everyone who resides here remains happy.” He gave Eloisa the most loving look he could manage, and it made her blink owlishly at him with a mixture of shock and wonder. He fought a chuckle and traded a grin with Prudence, who wasn’t as over-wrought as her younger sister.
Prudence watched the interplay avidly. Her own dealings with Levant had always made her feel cheap and sordid; like she had soiled her hands and couldn’t quite get them clean enough to rid herself of all trace of him. This time though, from the look on his face, it was Levant who was tense and on edge. She didn’t mind one bit that Rufus had seemingly adopted Eloisa as an excuse to repeatedly visit the house; nor did Eloisa, if the look of adoration she gave him was anything to go by. Prudence smirked and nudged Maggie, who was openly sniggering.
Prudence fought a smile and shared a look with Madeline, then found her gaze captured by the handsome stranger she had been trying so hard to ignore was there. Once again, there seemed to be something about her that intrigued him. She felt his piercing stare right down to her core and wasn’t sure what to do about it. Should she ask him what he was staring at? Then she would have to speak to him, and in doing that would acknowledge that his attention made her uneasy. She threw a dark look in his direction that was at odds with the warmth that began to thrum through her veins.
He was tall; taller than average, and had a lithe grace about him that bespoke of a hidden strength that she knew would make him a ruthless adversary. Even from several feet away she could sense the power in his heavily muscled thighs as he sat astride the horse and the tension in his thick corded muscles of his forearms as they rested on the saddle. The rain didn’t seem to bother him at all, and he seemed completely oblivious to the thinness of his pristine white shirt that was soaked to the skin, and revealed every square inch of masculine flesh beneath.
Captive Surrender Page 6